Collapsible golf shaft



Sept. 5, 1970 N. c. KATEGIAN 3,528,660

COLLAPSIBLE GOLF SHAFT Filed Nov. 29, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v VENTOR. NlCK 6. KA TEG/A/V Sept. 15, 1970 N. c. KATEGIAN COLLAPSIBLE GOLF SHAFT 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1968 I/VVENTOF? N/CK C. KATEG/A/V States Patent 3,528,660 COLLAPSIBLE GOLF SHAFT Nick C. Kategian, Glenview, Ill., assignor to Brandell Products Corporation, Rosemout, 111., a corporation of Illinois Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 668,271, Aug. 7, 1967, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 322,851, Nov. 12, 1963. This application Nov. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 780,151

Int. Cl. A63b 53/12 US. Cl. 273-80 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf club having an axially collapsible shaft comprising a plurality of telescoping tubular sections, which, in fully extended position, are securely frictionally held against rotation relative to each other. The sections are releasably held in collapsed position by a bayonet slot connection or by a frictional fit between the inside of the outer section and the outside of a ferrule fixed on the neck portion of the club head.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 668,271, filed Aug. 7, 1967, now abandoned, which is a continuation of an application, Ser. No. 322,851, filed Nov. 12, 1963, now abandoned, which was copending therewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to golf clubs, and has particular reference to shafts for golf clubs.

An important object of the invention is to provide a telescopic shaft for golf clubs, whereby clubs embodying the shaft, when not in use, may be collapsed to minimal length, of the order of fifteen inches or less, to facilitate transportation and storage thereof and allow the same to be packaged for sale in containers of convenient size for storage and shipment.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an axially extensible and collapsible golf club shaft embodying tubular interfitting sections and having simple and exceedingly inexpensive means for holding the shaft components in collapsed condition and also firmly and rigidly in extended position; a further object being to provide means operable to rigidly interconnect the telescopic shaft sections together in extended position to form a composite shaft that is the substantial equivalent of a single continuous element of unitary construction, so that the collapsible shaft in extended position will have substantially the same flexibility and whipping action as a unitary shaft of conventional formation.

Another important object is to provide a sectional telescopically collapsible and extensible golf club shaft that is particularly well adapted to all of the golf club forms commonly known as putters, irons and woods, a feature of the shaft structure being that its component parts may be collapsed substantially within the confines of the handle portion of the club, so that the overall length of the club, when in collapsed condition, comprises substantially the length of the handle section plus the length of the club head; a further object of the invention being to form a seat at the upper end of the neck of the club head sized to snugly and frictionally fit within the lower end of the handle section, when the club is in collapsed condition, to thereby retain the club head in frictional engagement with the lower end of the handle section and thus hold the sectional club components in collapsed condition housed within the handle section.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a novel collapsible golf club shaft structure embodying a plurality of shaft sections collapsible one within the other, with the inner and outer sections being so sized and tapered that, when forcibly drawn to extended position, with a jerk, the sections will become wedgingly locked together, by the tight, frictional engagement of the interfitting tapered portions of the shaft sections, to thereby interconnect the sections as a unitized shaft affording, substantially, the flexing action or feel of an integral, unitary shaft.

Yet another object is to enable a novel collapsible golf club shaft structure of the aforementioned type to be afforded wherein one of the shaft sections is a head carrying section adapted to be secured in the neck of a club head at the lower end of the section, and another of the sections is a handle section disposed around the head carrying section, with the upper end of the head carrying section and the lower end of the handle section being so sized and tapered to become wedgingly locked together, when manually forcibly drawn to extended position with a jerk.

A further object is to enable a novel collapsible golf club shaft structure to be afforded which embodies a plurality of shaft sections collapsible one within the other and including a head carrying section adapted to be secured in the neck of a club head at one end of the section, and sized for enclosure within an intermediate section of slightly larger sectional size, the intermediate section in turn being sized for reception within another still larger section, the upper ends of the head carrying and intermediate sections being tapered to snugly and wedgingly interfit tightly within the correspondingly tapered lowered ends of the slightly larger sections within which they are received, so that, when forcibly drawn to extended position in the aforementioned manner, the sections become so wedgingly locked together.

Another object is to afford a novel golf club embodying a head mounted on the lower end of a shaft, with the shaft embodying a plurality of telescopically disposed sections, including a handle section at the upper end thereof, with the sections being so sized and tapered that, by forcibly drawing them to extended position, with a jerk, they may be so securely frictionally engaged with each other that the force exerted on the head during a normal ball-striking swing of the club, is insufficient to turn the head relative to the handle section; and, by pounding on the outer end of the handle section, axially of the shaft, the sections may be freed from the aforementioned extended position for collapsing one within the other.

Another object is to afford a novel handle structure for collapsible golf club shafts; a further object of the present invention being to afford a novel outer end construction for such handle sections; and another object being to afford a novel outer end construction for such handle sections which is effective to facilitate such freeing of shaft sections from extended position by such pounding, and which is effective to protect such handle sections against being damaged by the collapsing of other sections thereinto.

A further object is to enable the head portion of a collapsible golf club to be protected against damage in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another important object is to provide a collapsible golf club shaft structure comprising a head carrying section of minimal sectional size, a handle section of maximum sectional size, and, optionally, one or more intermediate sections of intermediate sectional size, the sections being axially collapsible and extensible each within the next adjacent section; a further object being to form the upper ends of the head carrying and any such intermediate sections with externally tapered portions of appreciable length and to form the lower ends of the handle and of any such intermediate sections internally with tapered portions to snugly and wedgingly receive the upper ends of the enclosed sections, when the parts are in extended position.

The foregoing and numerous other important objects, advantages, and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a collapsible golf club, embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the golf club in extended position; a

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the golf club shown in FIG. 1, showing the club disposed in collapsed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view through the golf club shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view through the golf club shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail, sectional view of the upper portion of a handle section, showing a modified form of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of a golf club, showing a modified form of the present invention, with the golf clug shown in extended position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of the golf club shown in FIG. 6, with the club shown in collapsed position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the head connected end of the shaft in collapsed condition to show a modified latching arrangement; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS SHOWN HEREIN A golf club 1, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The golf club 1 embodies, in general, a ball strikin head 2 mounted on the lower end portion of an elongated shaft 3. The head 2 is of the style commonly referred to as a wood. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, any suitable style of head, such as, for example, that for an iron or a putter may be used without departing from the purview of the present invention.

The shaft 3 embodies two telescopically interfitting, tapered, tubular shaft sections, including a lower or head carrying section 4 and an upper or handle section 5. The lower end of the lower section 4 is snugly and tightly fitted into a preferably tapered socket 6 formed in the neck 7 and the body 8 of the head 2, FIGS. 3 and 4, the section 4 being firmly secured in place in the socket 6 by any suitable means, such as, for example, an epoxy resin cement. A plug 9 preferably is mounted in the socket 6, below the shaft section 4 and secured therein by suitable means, such as epoxy resin cement, to thereby close the bottom of the socket 6.

The head carrying section 4 and the handle section 5 are of such size and taper that the upper end portion 10 of the head carrying section 4 fits wedgingly within the lower end portion 11 of the handle section 5, when the golf club 1 is in extended position. In order to insure joint tightness, when the golf club 1 is extended, the sections 4 and 5 are preferably of such size and taper that the overlap between the tightly wedges portions 9 and 10 thereof, respectively, is of substantial length, preferably of the order of one to three inches. The sections 4 andS are preferably madefrom steel tubing having a wall thickness in the order of .017 to .020 of an inch. At the overlap between the portions 10 and 11, in the extended golf club 1, the taper of both the inner and outer surfaces of the sections 4 and 5 preferably is in the order of .010 to .014 of an inch per inch of length. Preferably, the sections 4 and 5 are of round transverse cross section throughout their lengths.

A conventional hand grip sleeve 12 is mounted on the upper end portion of the upper section 5 of the shaft 3 and is secured thereto by any suitable means such as, for example, by epoxy resin cement. Preferably, the hand grip sleeve 12 embodies a tubular body portion 13 and an end cap or plug 14 threaded onto the outer end of the body portion 13, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

A ferrule 15 is mounted on the upper end portion of the neck 7 of the club head 2, and preferably extends upwardly therefrom a short distance along the lower end portion of the head carrying section 4 of the shaft 5, FIGS. 3 and 4. Preferably, the ferrule 15 is of such cross sectional size that when the golf club 1 is disposed in collapsed position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the lower end of the handle section 5 of the shaft 3 is engaged therewith with a snug frictional fit for purposes which will be discussed in greater detail presently.

In assembling the golf club 1, the head carrying section 4 may be inserted downwardly through the handle section 5; the body portion 13 of the hand grip 12 may be cemented to the upper end portion of the handle section 5; the plug 14 may be threaded into the hand grip body portion 13; the lower end portion of the head carrying section 4 may be cemented into the socket 6; and the lower end portion of the socket 6 may then be closed by cementing the plug 9 therein.

When the club shaft 3 is in collapsed condition, FIG. 4, the head carrying section 4 fits loosely within the handle section 5, with the lower end portion of the handle section 5 extending downwardly over the upper end portion of the ferrule 15. It will be remembered that the lower end portion of the handle section 5 is of such size that it snugly engages the outer surface of the ferrule 15. Preferably, the lower end portion of the handle section 5, in collapsed position, engages the ferrule 15 with a snug sliding fit so that it is effective to frictionally secure the parts together, thereby releasably holding the club components in collapsed condition.

Preferably, the lengths of the shaft sections 4 and 5 are such that when the golf club 1 is in collapsed condition, the upper end of the head section 4 is disposed in downwardly spaced relation to the end cap 14 of the hand grip 12, FIG. 4.

Conventional woods and irons normally have overall lengths of the order of thirty-six to forty-three inches, including approximately five inches in the heads of the woods and three inches in the heads of the irons. Conventional putters normally have lengths of the order of thirty-three to thirty-six inches including approximately three inches in the heads thereof.

In the practice of the present invention, the golf club 1 may be readily constructed in the form of a wood having an overall extended length of forty-three inches and an overall collapsed length of twenty-five and onequarter inches, while affording a three inch overlap between the sections 4 and 5 in extended position; one inch clearance between the upper end of the head carrying section 4 and the end plug 14 of the hand grip 12, in collapsed position; and an overlap of one-half inch between the lower end of the handle section 5 and the upper end portion of the ferrule 15, in collapsed position. For example, to accomplish this with a five inch club head, the head carrying section 4 may have an overall length of twentyfour inches and be inserted four and one-quarter inches into the head 2; and the handle section 5 may have an overall length of twenty-one and one quarter inches and be of such cross sectional size at the lower end thereof that it will extend downwardly over the ferrule 15 a distance of one-half inch, when the club 1 is disposed in fully collapsed position.

If in the practice of the invention the golf club 1 is constructed in the form of an iron or putter having a head length of three inches and an overall extended length of thirty-six inches, such a club may be readily constructed to have an overall collapsed length of twenty-two and three-quarter inches while affording a three inch overlap between the shaft sections 4 and 5 in fully extended position; a clearance of one inch between the upper end of the head carrying section 4 and the end cover 14 of the hand grip 12, in collapsed position; and an overlap of one-half inch between the lower end portion of the handle section 5 and the ferrule 15. This may be accomplished by using a head carrying section 4 having an overall length of nineteen and three-quarter inches, and which extends into a three inch club head the distance of one inch; and a handle section 5 having an overall length of twenty and one-quarter inches, which is of such cross sectional size at the lower end portion thereof that it extends down wardly over the upper portion of the ferrule 15 a distance of one-half inch when the club 1 is in fully collapsed position.

When the club 1 is in collapsed position, and it is desired to condition it for use, it is merely necessary to manually pull the head carrying section 4 and the handle carrying section 5 apart with a suflicient jerk to firmly seat the upper portion of the head carrying section 4 in.wedging engagement with the lower portion 11 of the handle section 5. With a golf club constructed in the manner of the golf club 1 shown in the drawings, the average adult male will find no difiiculty in manually jerking the sections 4 and 5 apart with suflicient force that the portions 10 and 11 are wedged so firmly together that a normal golf ball striking swing of the club 1 is incapable of turning the head 2 relative to the handle section 5.

With the club 1 thus disposed in fully extended position, it may be readily collapsed by grasping the head 2 as a handle and pounding the upper end of the handle section 5 against any firm unyielding body, such as a floor or pavement. By thus tapping the upper end of the handle section 5 upon a firm base, the wedged portions 10 and 11 may be released, after which the parts of the club 1 may be readily moved to the fully collapsed position shown in FIG. 4, in which the lower end of the handle section 5 is disposed in snug frictional engagement with the upper end portion of the ferrule 15, to thereby releasably hold the parts of the club 1 in such collapsed position.

A modified form of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5, and like reference numerals have been used on like parts, and the same reference numerals with the sufiix a have been used on parts which are similar but which have been substituted for parts of the preferred form of the present invention.

It will be observed that the changes made in the modified form of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 comprise the following: a hardened steel plug 16 has been mounted in the upper end portion of the handle section 5a; and the lengths of the head carrying section 4a and the handle section 5a have been adjusted so that in fully collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper end of the head carrying section 4a is disposed in abutting engagement with the lower face of the plug 16.

The plug 16 may be made of any suitable material such as, for example, case hardened steel, and preferably is substantially cylindrical in shape, 'with an annular groove 17 extending around the periphery thereof sub stantially midway of its length. The plug 16 preferably is of such size that, on assembling the club 1a, it may be readily inserted into the upper end of the head section 5a, and is disposed therein with a relatively snug, freely slideable fit. Preferably, the plug 16 is cemented into the end of the head section 5a with a suitable cement such as, for example, an epoxy resin cement. Thereafter, the plug 16 is staked in position in the head section 5a by swedging the head section 5a inwardly into the groove 17 at a plurality of spaced points 18.

The hand grip 12 is mounted on the upper end portion of the head section 5a in the same manner as heretofore described with respect to the mounting of the hand grip 12 on the head section 5 shown in FIGS. 1-4, and the (122d cap 14 preferably rests on the outer end of the plug With the club 1a constructed in the manner shown in FIG. 5, it will be seen that the plug 16 affords a structure which is eifective in assisting in absorbing pounding shock when collapsing the shaft 3a. Also, it affords effective protection against the end cap 14 of the hand grip 12 being dislodged, or being cut or otherwise damaged by the head carrying section 4a.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 another modified form of the present invention is shown, and parts which are the same as parts shown in FIGS. 1-4 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and parts which are similar to but which have been substituted for parts shown in FIGS. 14 are indicated with the same reference numerals with the suffix b added thereto.

The golf club 1b shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is in the form of an iron and embodies a ball striking head 2b, and a collapsible shaft structure 3b which embodies three telescopically interfitting, tapered, tubular shaft sections, including a head carrying section 4b, a handle section 5b and an intermediate spacing section 19. The lower end of the head carrying section 4b is snugly and tightly fitted into a preferably tapered socket 6b formed in the neck or hozel 7b of the golf club head 2b, and is firmly secured in place in the socket by suitable means such as, for example, an epoxy resin cement.

The upper ends of the head carrying section 4b and the spacing section 19 are sized respectively to fit wedgingly within the lower ends of the spacing section 19 and the handle section 5b, when the club is in extended condition. In order'to insure joint tightness, when the golf club 1b is extended, the upper end portions 10b and 20 of the sections 4b and 19, respectively, are preferably of such size and outside taper that the overlap between them and the lower end portions 21 and 11b of the intermediate section 19 and the handle section 5b, respectively, when the overlapped portions are in fully extended, tightly wedged relation to each other, is of substantial length, preferably of the order of one inch to three inches. The sections 4b, 5b and 19 are preferably made from steel tubing having a wall thickness in the order of .017 to .020 of an inch. At the overlap between the portions 4b and 19 and the portions 19 and 5b, in the extended golf club 1b, the taper of both the inner and outer surfaces of the sections 4b, 5b and 19 preferably is in the order of .008 to .009 of an inch. Like the sections 4 and 5 shown in FIGS. 14, the sections 4b, 5b and 19 preferably are of round transverse cross section throughout their lengths.

The conventional hand grip sleeve 12, embodying a tubular body portion 13 and an end cap or plug 14 threaded thereonto, is mounted on the upper end portion of the handle section 5b in the same manner as heretofore discussed 'With respect to the corresponding hand grip 12 shown in FIGS. 1-4. A plug 16b, which is a modified form of the plug 16 shown in FIG. 5, is mounted in the upper end of the handle section 5b. The difference between the plug 16b and the plug 16 is that the plug 16b embodies a radially outwardly projecting flange 21 at the outer end portion thereof, which has a diameter corresponding to the outside diameter of the upper end of the handle section 5b. In the golf club 1b, the plug 16b is secured to the handle section Sb by cement, and by the staking 18 with the head-remote, or upper end of the handle section 5b disposed in abutting engagement with the lower face of the flange 21.

A ferrule or bushing 15b, in the form of a hardened steel bushing, is mounted on the upper end portion of the hozel 7b of the club head 2b, and preferably extends upwardly therefrom a short distance along the lower end portion of the head carrying section 4b of the assembled club 1b. Preferably, the lower face of the ferrule 15b is of the same cross sectional size as the upper face of the hozel 7b, and the ferrule 15b slopes upwardly and in wardly therefrom to the top thereof. The upward and inward taper of the ferrule 15b is such that when the club 1b is disposed in collapsed position as shown in FIG. 7, the lower end portion of the handle section b is disposed on the upper end portion of the ferrule b with a snug, slideable fit so that they are frictionally held together, to thereby releasably hold the club components in fully collapsed condition.

Golf club heads for irons and putters" are normally made of forged steel. With the club 1b constructed in the aforementioned manner, the ferrule 15b not only affords a latching member for frictional engagement with the handle section 5b, but affords an effective member for protecting the upper end portion of the hozel 7b of the head 2b from being cut or otherwise damaged by the lower ends of the sections 5b and 19 of the shaft 3b.

In assembling the golf club 1b, each of the sections 4b and 19 may be assembled through the larger end of its enclosing section 19 and 5b, respectively, after which the upper end of the handle section 5b may be closed by fastening the plug 16b therein in the previously described manner, to provide a stop for engaging the upper end of the intermediate section 19 and prevent emergence thereof through the upper end of the handle section 5b when the club 1b is being collapsed. Thereafter, the hand grip 12 may be cemented to the upper end portion of the handle section 5b; the ferrule 15b may be secured to the upper face of the hozel 7b by suitable means such as an epoxy resin cement; and the lower end portion of the head carrying section 4b may then be cemented into the ferrule 15b and the socket 6b in the hozel 7b with a suitable cement, such as the aforementioned epoxy resin cement.

When the club shaft 3b is in collapsed condition, FIG. 7, the intermediate section 19 extends loosely around the head carrying section 4b, and fits loosely within the handle section 5b. It will be remembered that in this condition of the club 1b, the lower end portion of the handle section 5b fits snugly around the upper portion of the ferrule 15b, to thus frictionally secure the head 2b and the handle section 5b together and thereby releasably hold the club components in collapsed condition. Preferably, the lengths of the shaft sections 4b, 5b and 19 are such that when the golf club 1b is in collapsed condition, the upper ends of the sections 4b and 19 are disposed in downwardly spaced relation to the plug 16b, FIG. 7.

It will be remembered that conventional woods and irons normally have overall lengths of the order of thirty-six to forty-three inches, and conventional putters normally have lengths of the order of thirty-three to thirty-six inches. Accordingly, for a thirty-six inch iron or putter, the sections 4b, 5b and 19 may be made about one foot in length, so that the club, when collapsed, will measure about fifteen inches from the bottom of the club head to the head remote end of the handle. For example, in affording a thirty-six inch putter, the sections 4b and 19 may be made twelve and one-eighth inches long, with a one inch overlap between each of the sections, and with the head carrying section extending into the ferrule 15b and the head 2b a distance of one inch; and the handle section 5b may be made twelve and three-quarter inches long, with the plug 16b extending downwardly thereinto a distance of three-eighths of an inch. With such construction, the putter which is thirty-six inches long in fully extended position, with a three inch head, will be between fifteen and fifteen and three-quarter inches long in fully collapsed position. By increasing the length of each of the three sections 4b, 5b and 19 by the same amount, a longer extended shaft length, which is a multiple of the aforementioned amount, is provided. Thus, a longer extended shaft length may be provided without greatly increasing the collapsed length of the club.

As with the club 1, shown in FIGS. 1-4, when the club 1b is in collapsed position, and it is desired to condition it for use, it is merely necessary to manually pull the handle and head carrying sections apart to a fully extended position with a suflicient jerk to firmly seat the wedging portions 10b and 20 in the surrounding lower portions 21 and 11b of the respective enclosing sections 19 and 5b. The club 1b may be readily collapsed from fully extended position by grasping the head 2b as a handle and pounding the upper end of the handle section 5b upon any firm unyielding body, such as a floor or pavement. By thus tapping the upper end of the handle section 5b upon a firm base, the wedging portions 10b and 20 of the sections 4b and 19, respectively, may be released, usually successively, from wedging engagement with the lower ends 21 and 11b of the shaft sections 19 and 5b, respectively. After such release of the wedged sections, the parts of the club 1b may be readily moved to the fully collapsed position shown in FIG. 7, in which the lower end of the handle section 5b is disposed in interfitting engagement with the upper end of the ferrule 15b disposed on top of the neck or hozel 7b of the club head 2b.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 another modified form of the present invention is shown, and parts which are the same as parts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and parts which are similar to but which have been substituted for parts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are indicated with the same reference numerals with the suffix c substituted for the suffix b.

In the golf club 10 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lower end of the handle section 50 is preferably sized to snugly yet slidingly engage a seat 22 formed at the top of the neck 70 of the club head 2c. A head holding pin 23 extends through the seat portion 22 of the neck 7c and through the head holding section 4b of the shaft So to thereby secure the section 4b to the head 20. The opposite ends of the pin 23 extend outwardly from the seat 22 to form diametrically opposed latching detents 24 for releasable reception in bayonet slots 25 formed on opposite sides of the lower end of the handle section 50 to hold the shaft components in collapsed condition.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel golf club wherein the shaft portion thereof may be quickly and easily changed between a fully extended position and a substantially shorter collapsed position.

-In addition, it will be seen that with a collapsible golf club constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, when it is disposed in fully extended position, the shaft sections thereof are so firmly wedged together that a normal golf ball striking swing of the club is incapable of turning the head thereof relative to the handle thereof.

Also, it will be seen that movement of the club shaft sections to fully extended position and to fully collapsed position may be readily effected.

In addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel, practical collapsible golf club wherein securing of the portions thereof in fully extended position may be quickly and easily effected in a novel and expeditious manner.

In addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel collapsible golf club which is practical and efiicient in operation, and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous at tendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and ar- 9 rangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its advantages, the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

I claim:

1. A golf club having (a) a ball striking head, and

(b) a collapsible shaft embodying (1) a tubular handle section and (2) a plurality of additional shaft sections telescopically extensible and collapsible one within another and all within the handle section,

(c) said additional sections including (1) a head carrying shaft section (a) secured at one end to the ball striking head of the club and (b') extending telescopically within another of said additional sections,

(d) said ball striking head being formed with a shaft connecting neck in which the head carrying shaft section is secured,

(e) said handle section having an end sized to circumferentially engage the neck when the shaft is collapsed,

(f) interengageable latch means on the neck and on the neck engaging end of said handle section for holding said shaft in collapsed condition,

(g) said latch means on said neck engaging end comprising a latching slot, and

(h) said latch means on said neck comprising a projection latchingly receivable in said slot to hold said shaft in collapsed condition.

2. A golf club comprising (a) a ball striking head, and

(b) a collapsible shaft comprising a plurality of elongated shaft sections (1) telescopically extensible and collapsible in an axial direction between (a) a fully extended position relative to each other, and (b') a fully collapsed position wherein they are disposed one within the other, and (2) including (a') a head carrying section, at one end, secured to said ball striking head in such position that said head projects laterally therefrom, and '(b') a handle section at the other end,

(c) said handle section being the radially-outermost one of said shaft sections when said shaft sections are disposed in said fully collapsed position,

(d) each of said shaft sections which is disposed within another of said shaft sections having a uniform tapered outer peripheral surface which is overlappingly wedgingly engaged with a matingly tapered inner surface of a respective other shaft section when said shaft sections are manually jerked to said fully extended position,

(e) said overlappingly engaged surfaces being of sufficient extent that when they are so wedgingly engaged they are frictionally engaged with each other with sufficient force by reason of said frictional engagement alone to prevent movement of said head carrying section in any direction relative to said handle section by reason of the forces applied to said head by a normal golf ball striking swing of the club.

3. A golf club as defined in claim 2, and in which (a) the portions of said shaft sections which are frictionally engaged with each other when said shaft sections are disposed in said fully extended position are substantially circular in transverse cross section.

4. A golf club as defined in claim 2, and in which (a) said shaft sections include an intermediate shaft section disposed between said head carrying section and said handle section.

5. A golf club as defined in claim 2, and in which (a) end closure means are mounted at the head remote end of said handle section for closing the latter, and

(b) said closure means includes a plug mounted in and secured to said head remote end of said handle section.

6. A golf club as defined in claim 5, and in which (a) said plug has a radially outwardly projecting flange disposed in abutting engagement with the head remote end face of said handle section.

7. A golf club comprising (a) a ball striking head, and

(b) a collapsible shaft comprising a plurality of elongated shaft sections (1) telescopically extensible and collapsible in an axial direction between (a) a fully extended position relative to each other, and (b') a fully collapsed position wherein they are disposed one within the other, and (2) including (a) a head carrying section, at one end, se-

cured to said ball striking head, and (b') a handle section at the other end,

(c) said handle section being the radially-outermost one of said shaft sections when said shaft sections are disposed in said fully collapsed position,

(d) said shaft sections, when in said fully extended position, being frictionally engaged with each other with sufiicient force to prevent rotation of said head carrying section relative to said handle section by reason of the forces applied to said head by a normal golf ball striking swing of the club, and

(e) a ferrule mounted around said head carrying section, adjacent to said head, in position to engage said handle section when said shaft sections are disposed in said fully collapsed position.

8. A golf club as defined in claim 7, and in which (a) said ferrule has an outer surface (1) tapering inwardly toward said handle section,

and

(2) sized to engage in said handle section with a frictional fit effective to releasably hold said handle section and said head carrying section stationary relative to each other when said shaft sections are disposed in said collapsed position relative to each other.

9. A golf club as defined in claim 7, and in which (a) said ferrule is made of hardened steel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 2/ 1932 Germany. 3/1930 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner R. J. APLEY, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

